Stimulus checks

cgmartin · ‎March 23, 2022

I live in California. I received a federal stimulus check in 2020. I then received two more federal stimulus checks in 2021. When I filed my federal 1040, for 2021, I answered no to the question if I had received a third stimulus check. This is because the first stimulus check was in 2020. I have now received a letter from the IRS stating there was a problem with the stimulus check and I now have to pay additional taxes. It appears they are counting the 2020 check and the 2021 checks to count as three. Why is that? The 2020 was in a different tax year and should not be counted.

xmasbaby0 · ‎March 23, 2022

When you prepared your 2020 return you were supposed to enter the amounts received for both the first AND second stimulus checks, even if you received the 2nd EIP payment in early 2021. If you did not enter it, that was a mistake.

The first EIP --or stimulus check--- was issued in 2020 It was for $1200 for adults and $500 for a dependent under the age of 17. The IRS used information from either your 2019 or 2020 tax return to issue those checks so they could send them out in a hurry.

The 2nd EIP or stimulus was issued in late 2020 or early 2021 and was $600 for adults and $600 for dependents under age 17.

The 3rd EIP--or stimulus check-- was sent out in mid-March or later in 2021 and was for $1400 per person--adults and dependents no age limit.

https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

VolvoGirl · ‎March 23, 2022

There is a slight difference. It did not want to know if you got 3 checks in 2021. It wanted to know if you got the 3rd Stimulus payment. You got the first one in 2020. The second one in 2021 and the third one in 2021. The first 2 were for 2020 even though the second one came in Jan or Feb 2021. Then you got the new 3rd one starting in March. So you did get it.

Its not asking if you got 3 checks total but only if you got the THIRD check which came out in March 2021. Which you did. It's not counting the first 2 checks. Those were for 2020.